Great Dates Orlando

The Orlando Date Night Guide is LIVE!!

I’m so thrilled to announce that Great Dates Orlando has officially become the Orlando Date Night Guide. A new look, a new logo and a new layout have ushered in a new era and while many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: all of your favorite date night ideas and the best suggestions for having quality couple time are still centralized in one fabulously convenient hub.

So, head on over to the new site: www.orlandodatenightguide.com

This will be my last post on Great Dates Orlando and as all these pages are redirected, this site will slowly fade into the background.

Change is hard sometimes but it was necessary to grow and to adequately highlight all the amazing content that has lived on the site for more than seven years.

I hope you’ll join me in embracing the Orlando Date Night Guide and continue to use it as your number one source of date night ideas in Orlando.

Wishing you love and laughter always,

Kristen Manieri

Date Night for a Cause: Dining in the Dark, May 8

There's nothing wrong with having a fabulous date night and giving back to the community at the same time.

On Thursday, May 8, Lighthouse Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank will present DINING IN THE DARK, a sensory-driven dining event where guests are immersed in total blindness and must rely on their sense of taste and smell to navigate the night’s fare.

Hosted at Second Harvest Food Bank (411 Mercy Drive, Orlando), the event features a gourmet, multi-course dinner served completely in the dark by members of Orlando Police Department’s SWAT team, who donate their time for the evening.

Tickets, which are $125 per person including cocktails, dinner and drinks, support both Lighthouse Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank. Click here to purchase.

Dining in the Dark
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Second Harvest Food Bank
Cocktail Hour 6-7pm
Dinner 7-9pm
Dress: Business Casual

Scott Joseph’s Pop Up Dinner and Supper Club

Two upcoming foodie events, both organized by local restaurant critic Scott Joseph, are worthy of your consideration. Here are the details…

Sous Chefs, Road Food & Rioja!
This Pop-Up event will put the spotlight on up-and-coming sous chefs from some of Orlando’s best restaurants. Held inside the showroom of the Orlando Harley-Davidson dealership off of I-4, this culinary affair not only gives guests access to loads of tasty food but also the chance to experience the thrill of riding a Harley.

Chefs include Jason Campbell (Cask & Larder), Andrew Claytor (Txokos Basque Kitchen) and Tom Hill (Victoria & Albert's). There are nine sous chefs cooking in total. This is a walkabout event and the chefs will be cooking and serving from stations throughout the showroom.

Wednesday, May 21 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $85 plus tax and proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund of the American Federation of Chefs and Give Kids the World. Click here for more info. 

Supper Club at Siro: Urban Italian Kitchen  
Beginning with a cocktail reception, this epicurean adventure features a kitchen tour followed by a multi-course, wine-paired dinner.

Orlando World Center Marriott is offering a special room rate of $99 for attendees who would like to just take the elevator home after dinner. The rate does not include tax or resort fee but does include self-parking.

Saturday, May 17, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $80 plus tax and proceeds go to the Children's Miracle Network. Click here for more info. 

 

Top 10 Date Night Picks for This Weekend in Orlando

Nautique Wake Games
April 24 - 27
Orlando Watersports Complex
$7 online in advance
 
100 for $100
April 25-27 
Gallery on First, Sanford 
Free

Hairspray the Musical
April 25- May 25 
Garden Theatre, Winter Garden
$12-$29

Great American Pie Festival
April 26-27
Lakeside Park, Celebration  
$10 for Never Ending Pie Buffet tickets

53rd Annual Apopka Art and Foliage Festival 
April 26-27
Kit Land Nelson Park 
$5 parking

FEEDback Fair 
Saturday, April 26, noon-3 p.m.
East End Market 
Free

Movie in the Park: Much Ado About Nothing 
Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. 
Loch Haven Park 
Free

Lake Mary Pour 
Saturday, April 26, 4-7 p.m. 
Colonial Town Park 
$30

Night Hike and Moth Prowl 
Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m. 
Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge   
Free, call 321-861-5601 to make reservations.

Concert Under the Stars 
Saturday, April 26, 7-10 p.m. 
Bok Tower Gardens 
$20 advance, $25 at the gate

Also...

MOVIEOLA at Lake Eola Park (Friday, April 25)

Winestock (Friday, April 25)

Picks from Orlando Magazine’s Annual Dining Awards

Readers of Orlando Magazine cast their vote in 61 different foodie categories, including Most Romantic, Best View and Best Kept Secret, during this year’s Annual Dining Awards. Check out a few of the winners below and be sure to keep this list handy for the next time you’re making your date night dinner plans. 

MOST ROMANTIC
1 Chef’s Table at the Edgewater

2 The Venetian Room 


3 Victoria & Albert’s
 
BEST RESTAURANT
1 Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant
 
2 Chef’s Table at the Edgewater


3 deep blu seafood grille

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
1 Eddie V’s

2 Yuki Hana
3 Nona Blue Modern Tavern


 
BEST VIEW
1 California Grill

2 Hillstone

3 Citrus Club
 
BEST KEPT SECRET
1 Chef Henry’s

2 Yellow Dog Eats
3 Maxine’s on Shine

 
 
Want to see all the winners? Check out the full list here.

Beer School at World of Beers, May 3

Love beer and want to learn more about it? Consider heading to BEER SCHOOL, a hands-on class held on Saturday, May 3 at World of Beer - Altamonte Springs (155 Cranes Roost Blvd.)

Beginning at 3pm, students will get a boozy schooling from WOB’s savvy beertenders, who’ll share insights about different beer varieties and the brewing process.

Tickets are $30 per person and include different offerings of beer and your own personal beertender.

For more information, visit World of Beer’s Facebook page.

MOVIEOLA at Lake Eola Park

Starting this month, the City of Orlando will host a free outdoor movie series in Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando on the last Friday of every month through August. 

 

While films are designed to be "family friendly," these alfresco flicks will likely attract lots of couples feeling young at heart. 

 

Beginning on Friday, April 25, the movie will be shown on the East Lawn, with lawn games, music and food available for purchase starting at 6:30pm. The feature movie will begin at at 8pm.

 

WHERE:

Lake Eola Park – East Lawn

512 East Washington Street 

Orlando, Florida 32801

 

WHEN:

April – August 2014 on the last Friday of the Month

Event begins at 6:30 p.m.

Movie starts at 8:00 p.m. 

 

MOVIEOLA DATES AND FEATURES:

• Friday, April 25, 2014 featuring “Frozen”
• Friday, May 30, 2014 featuring “Thor – The Dark World”
• Friday, June 27, 2014 featuring “Despicable Me 2”
• Friday, July 25, 2014 featuring “Muppet’s Most Wanted”
• Friday, August 29, 2014 featuring “Lego Movie”

Winestock is this Friday, April 25

Winestock returns this Friday, April 25th to Uptown Altamonte when attendees will sip and munch their way through over 60 wine, craft beers, and fabulous food tastings, plus enjoy the night's entertainment held on two stages inside Cranes Roost Park.

Tickets can be purchased for $30 in advance or $75 for Hard Rock Cafe VIP tickets, which include full pours and food.

For more tickets and more information, visit www.winestockuncorked.com.

Top 10 Date Night Picks for This Weekend in Orlando

Jersey Boys
April 17 - 27
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
From $50

2014 Spring Swap and Shop
Friday, April 18, 6 p.m.
Rollins College
$5 for students, $10 everyone else 

The Lunchbox
Enzian Theater
Through April 24
Tickets from $7.50

Joe Rogan (Comedy) 
Friday, April 18, 8 p.m.
Hard Rock Live, Universal CityWalk
$37.50-$45.50 

Friday Night Pour
Friday, April 18, 4:30 - 6:30 pm
Whole Foods Market, Winter Park
Free

Central Florida Earth Day 2014 
Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Lake Eola Park
Free

Wild Goose Chase Orlando (urban scavenger hunt)
Saturday, April 19, 2-5pm
Frank & Steins, 150 South Magnolia Avenue 
$50

Classic Albums Live: Nirvana's "Nevermind"  
Saturday, April 19, 7 p.m.
Hard Rock Live, CityWalk
$25-$30

The Pig and Pint: A Hoedown and Pig Roast with the SBK Show
Saturday, April 19, 4-8 p.m.
Wall Street Plaza
$10

Easter Bunch
Sunday, April 20
Various locations across Orlando
View Orlando Sentinel's full listing

NEXT WEEK...

Whole Deal Cooking Class
Wednesday, April 23, 6:30-7:30pm
Whole Foods, Sand Lake
Come join Chef Lenning as he shows you how easy it is to take those sale items and turn them into a delicious quick and simple meal that the family will think you spent hours on.
Free

$30 Date Night: Best Mini Putt Spots

Researchers seem to agree that the couple that plays together stays together. It’s true that laughing and letting loose a little seems to revive the playful parts of our relationship. So, next time you’re planning your couple time, consider a mini-putt date night. It’s cheap, easy, and good, clean fun… unless of course you add a naughty wager to the match-up.
 
Here are a few mini-putt options near you:
 
Altamonte Springs Area
Congo River Miniature Golf
531 SR 436, Altamonte Springs
$11.99 (with online $1 off coupon) per person
Nearby sweets and treats: 4Rivers Sweet Shop (869 W State Road 434, Longwood) is about 3 miles away. Here you’ll find ice cream, milkshakes, giant slices of cake and fun cupcakes.
 
I-Drive
Pirate's Cove
8501 International Drive, Orlando
$12.50 + tax per person
Nearby sweets and treats: Friendly’s, Edy’s Ice Cream, Häagen-Dazs, Baskin-Robbins and Cold Stone Creamery are all within a mile away.
 
Disney Area
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
Walt Disney World
$14 per person
 
Universal Area
Hollywood Drive-In Golf
CityWalk, Universal Orlando
$13.95 per person (online in advance)
** There is free parking at CityWalk for Florida residents after 6pm

Kissimmee Area
Congo River Miniature Golf
4777 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee
$10.99 (with online $1 off coupon) per person
Nearby sweets and treats: Twistee Treat (4722 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee) has soft serve, milkshakes, ice cream floats, and ice cream cookies!